Prostate Artery Embolization
What is PAE?
Prostate Artery Embolization (PAE) is a minimally invasive, non-surgical outpatient treatment to treat Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) or enlarged prostate. Using a live x-ray, an interventional radiologist inserts a thin IV catheter into the groin or wrist artery and guides it through the prostate artery. Once the correct vessels are identified, a mixture of small beads (microparticles) is injected to fill areas of the prostate gland being supplied by the blood vessel. These beads stay permanently in the prostate gland and will force it to shrink over time. Over time, the prostate shrinks, improving lower urinary tract symptoms. This FDA-approved procedure is performed at Fairfax Vascular Center.
What is Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH)?
Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia is the medical term for non-cancerous enlarged prostate. The typical prostate size of the adult male is about the size of a golf ball. When enlarged, the size can increase to the equivalent of a lemon, obstructing urine flow from the bladder and out the urethra.
Am I at risk?
Enlarged prostate is common as men age, affecting one in four men by age 55, and half of 75-year-old men. Most men will experience lower urinary tract symptoms to varying severity. The treatment is determined by the severity of symptoms. In severe cases, an enlarged prostate can lead to urinary tract infections, bladder or kidney damage, bladder stones or incontinence.
What are the symptoms?
Some lower urinary tract symptoms that are associated with an enlarged prostate include:
What are my treatment options?
Numerous treatment options exist for enlarged prostate, ranging from conservative to invasive. These include medication to improve flow of urine and decrease the size of the prostate. Transurethral treatments include Trans Urethral Resection of the Prostate (TURP), laser ablation/enucleation. Additional outpatient treatments include Rezum or UroLift. Finally, surgical treatments include prostatectomy. Prostate Artery Embolization is a very effective non-surgical, non-transurethral treatment.
Every patient’s treatment goals and risk tolerance is different. Your interventional radiologist will help guide to your preferred treatment, address your concerns and compare and contrast risks and benefits of various treatment pathways. No one treatment will suit the needs and goals of each patient.
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Am I a candidate for PAE?
Most patients with typical lower urinary tract symptoms are candidates for prostate artery embolization. The key benefits of PAE are few if any complications and no lasting sexual side-effects. Patients are candidates for PAE even if they are not candidates for a transuretheral surgical procedure. Patients with bleeding originating from the prostate gland, indwelling catheters for urination, or non-surgical candidates are also suitable for PAE. Patients with chronic non-bacterial prostatitis may also be candidates for treatment. Your interventional radiologist will go over your clinical history in detail during the consultation.
The benefits of treatment include:
Watch the video below to learn about PAE treatment
Why Choose Fairfax Vascular Center?
Over 100 years of combined clinical experience.
Fairfax Vascular Center is one of the largest, long-established interventional radiology practices with more than 100 years of combined clinical experience.
Specialize in Prostate Artery Embolization.
Since the introduction of the procedure, our highly trained interventional radiologists have been providing prostate artery embolization (PAE) as a treatment option for patients suffering from symptoms of an enlarged prostate. Currently, we are one of the busiest centers in the region. Additionally, part of our team is composed of sub-specialized radiologists who are experts in prostate and male pelvic imaging. We offer multiple approaches to performing the procedure both from the radial artery (wrist) and femoral artery (groin).
Dedicated to helping you through your treatment journey.
Our physicians are available 24/7 to ensure you are well taken care of from the time of consultation through your treatment and follow up.
State of the art imaging with subspecialty trained physicians.
Fairfax Vascular Center is part of Fairfax Radiology Centers, the largest and oldest diagnostic radiology group in the metro DC and surrounding region, allowing us to provide our patients with leading edge imaging technologies and the most experienced diagnostic and interventional radiologists with subspecialty training.
Team approach to care.
We strongly believe that multidisciplinary teamwork results in the best care and outcomes for our patients. Our interventional radiologists are among the few that provide the option of prostate artery embolization and work with some of the best urologists in the region to co-manage and treat patients suffering from symptoms of an enlarged prostate.
Common Questions
Our Physicians
Paul Reha Butros, M.D.
Baskent University School of Medicine
Completed 2005
Detroit Medical Center - Wayne State University
Completed 2012
Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Medical School
Completed 2014
Miami Cardiac and Vascular Institute
Completed 2015
American Board of Radiology - Diplomate
2012
American College of Radiology
American Medical Association
American Roentgen Ray Society
Medical Society of Virginia
Radiology Society of North America
Society of Interventional Radiology
Alain T. Drooz, M.D.
University of North Carolina
New York University Medical Center
Completed 1988
New York University Medical Center
Body Imaging
Completed 1989
New York University Medical Center
Interventional Radiology
Completed 1990
American Board of Radiology
1989
American College of Radiology
Radiological Society of North America
Society of Cardiovascular and Interventional Radiology
Society of Vascular Medicine and Biology - Fellow
Fairfax County Medical Society
Top Doctor
Washingtonian Magazine
Northern Virginia Magazine
Aaron R. DuCoffe, M.D.
Emory University School of Medicine
Completed 2013
University of Florida College of Medicine
Orthopaedic Surgery
Completed 2014
Georgetown University Medical Center
Diagnostic Radiology
Completed 2019
United States Department of Health and Human Services
Healthcare Policy/Quality - Opioid Safety
Completed 2015
Emory University School of Medicine
Vascular & Interventional Radiology
Completed 2020
American Board of Radiology
Board Eligible 2021
Completed 2018
Radiology Society of North America
Society of Interventional Radiology
American College of Radiology
Reviewer for Pain Medicine
National Ski Patrol
Michael G. Karnaze, M.D.
University of Kansas School of Medicine
Completed 1982
Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology
Completed 1987
Alexandria Hospital
Interventional Radiology
Completed 1988
American Board of Radiology
Diagnostic Radiology 1987
Interventional Radiology 1995
Society of Cardiovascular and Interventional Radiology
Chesapeake Interventional Radiology Society (President 1996)
American Heart Association
American College of Radiology
Radiology Society of North America
American Roentgen Ray Society
Top Doctor
Washingtonian Magazine
Northern Virginia Magazine
Hong Lim, M.D.
University of Medicine & Dentistry
Completed 2001
University of Medicine & Dentistry
Completed 2006
Baptist Cardiac and Vascular Institute
Completed 2008
American Board of Radiology
2006
Radiological Society of North America
American College of Radiology
Society of Interventional Radiology
David J. Spinosa, M.D.
Tufts University School of Medicine
Completed 1984
Georgetown University Hospital
Radiology
Completed 1992
New England Deaconess Hospital
Surgery
Completed 1987
University of Virginia
Angiography and Interventional Radiology
Completed 1993
American Board of Radiology
Radiology - 1992
Angiography and Interventional Radiology - 1995
Society of Interventional Radiologists
American College of Radiology
Top Doctor
Washingtonian Magazine
Northern Virginia Magazine
Mustafa M. Syed, D.O.
New York College of Osteopathic Medicine
Completed 2011
Mount Sinai West Hospital Center
Completed 2016
Mount Sinai Hospital, Vascular and Interventional Radiology
Completed 2017
American Board of Radiology, 2017
Radiological Society of North America
American College of Radiology
American Board of Radiology
Society of Interventional Radiology
Jay D. Varma, M.D.
University of Maryland
Completed 1996
Boston University Medical Center
Completed 2001
Harvard Medical School
Completed 2002
American Board of Radiology
Radiology - 2001
Interventional Radiology - 2003
Cardiovascular and Interventional Society of Europe
Chesapeake Interventional Radiology Society
Medical Society of the District of Columbia
Society of Interventional Radiology
American Roentgen Ray Society
Radiological Society of North America
Top Doctor
Washingtonian Magazine
Northern Virginia Magazine
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